A KEEN swimmer is launching a petition after claiming his local pool has been hijacked.

Spencer Ratcliffe paid over £200 to join Salford's Fit City health programme, giving him access to council-owned gyms and swimming pools across the city.

But when he tried going for a swim at Broughton Pool, near his Earl Street home, he was disappointed to see the only times available were between 9am-5pm, when most people were at work.

The pool is used by Salford Swimming Club during the evenings, apart from a few brief sub aqua and aqua fit sessions. He says the club also dominate it over most of the weekend, including afternoon sessions when the pool is officially set aside for gala hire.

Spencer believes the club have monopolised the pool, as they use it when most people would normally want to go for a swim. And the 46-year-old, who is not impressed with the council's line that he should make the two-mile trip to Clarendon Pool, is starting a petition demanding a better timetable.

He has also written to the council's swimming pool contractor and has complained to Salford MP Hazel Blears's office.

He said: "The only time the public can use it is 9-5 during the day when most people are at work. Even at the weekend if you try to take the kids for a swim, you can't. I believe this is a public pool and it should be used by the public."

A council spokesman said Mr Ratcliffe could use Clarendon Pool instead and added: "We aim to do all we can to help Salford Swimming Club, which is very successful. Broughton has some of the best facilities in the city which is why they use that pool.

"In a review of our facilities a few years ago we found it had among the lowest usage rates in the city so we decided to make sure the club should make use of the pool."